The National Education Association announced it will support efforts to “ensure that politicians make true and accurate statements about President Obama’s record and the records of former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney and other Republican candidates.”

Union leaders noted that Obama’s campaign encourages supporters to join “truth teams” that will operate online and on the ground to “combat false attacks on President Obama and collect intelligence on new attacks. The ‘truth teams’ also will help spread the word about the accomplishments of the Obama administration and hold other candidates accountable when they try to distort their own records or the president’s record.”

The union said it will work to report attacks, misleading robocalls and other false information from political campaigns.

“As educators, we’re always urging our students to learn the facts,” NEA President Dennis Van Roekel said in a release. “We know how important the facts are to helping us make informed decisions. We need leaders who will stand up for quality education and who will be on the side of the middle class. We want Americans to know the facts about President Obama and his solid support of public education in America and the rights of working people.”

The union threw support to Obama early, endorsing his re-election bid at last year’s national conference. The union also leans left. A recent report card showed high marks for Democrats and low grades for Republicans, especially the Michigan delegation.
Union leaders say they are ready to devote manpower to the campaign.

“With members in every congressional district, NEA is gearing up to reach out and educate millions of eligible voters during the 2012 election year, focusing on association members and their families,” leaders said in a release.

“NEA also is partnering with other nonprofit organizations to encourage strong voter turnout—especially among minorities and unmarried women. In addition, NEA will work with groups that are preparing to educate the public about voter suppression tactics.”